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Special Ed Teachers, Secondary vs Elementary School Teachers

Median pay is about $10k higher for Special Ed Teachers, Secondary. The usual entry education is bachelor's for Special Ed Teachers, Secondary and bachelor's plus license for Elementary School Teachers.

marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.

Special Ed Teachers, Secondary compared with Elementary School Teachers: pay, outlook, entry and AI exposure
MeasureSpecial Ed Teachers, SecondaryElementary School Teachers
Pay
Median pay$74,260, higher$63,970
Entry pay 25th percentile$60,180, higher$57,710
Experienced pay 75th percentile$93,730, higher$81,450
Outlook, 2025 to 2035
Projected growth-0.2% Declining, higher-0.4% Declining
Openings a year10,40087,500
Getting in
Typical educationBachelor'sBachelor's plus license
Difficulty modeled3.4 / 52.8 / 5
AI
Displacement risk modeledLowLow
AI exposure modeled, percentile42nd pct62nd pct

Where the skills differ

Only Special Ed Teachers, Secondary

  • Writing

Only Elementary School Teachers

  • Critical Thinking

Both lean on learning strategies, reading comprehension, speaking, active listening, monitoring.

More comparisons

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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.